title: Novel insights on imaging sex-hormone-dependent tumourigenesis in vivo.
abstract: Sex hormones modulate proliferation, apoptosis, migration, metastasis and angiogenesis in cancer cells influencing tumourigenesis from the early hyperplastic growth till the end-stage metastasis. Although decades of studies have detailed these effects at the level of molecular pathways, where and when these actions are needed for the growth and progression of hormone-dependent neoplasia is poorly elucidated. Investigation of the hormone influences in carcinogenesis in the spatio-temporal dimension is expected to unravel critical steps in tumour progression and in the onset of resistance to hormone therapies. Non-invasive in vivo imaging represents a powerful tool to follow in time hormone signalling in the whole body during tumour development. This review summarizes the tools currently available to follow hormone action in living organisms.
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti, 9 I-20123 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stell
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maravigna
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciana
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000633:toxicity; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins